Monday, December 1, 2008

Yes, it's cyber Monday - the first weekday after the Thanksgiving weekend when online retailers get their largest traffic surge as bargain hunters hit the internet en mass.

I know what many of you are thinking, "Gee, I wish Chef John had a DVD for sale so I could finally help him keep the site up and running, AND score a sweet gift for my friends and family members that can't cook." It's like I read your mind, isn't it?

Well, you're in luck! I will be selling a DVD with some of my most popular video recipes so you can give the gift of me to others. I know you've told hundreds, if not thousands of people about this blog, but let's face it - people rarely do what you tell them too. Now, at nominal expense to you, they can watch these recipes on TV and cook along with Chef John.

Since this is mainly a fundraising effort (as well as providing you with a one-of-a-kind gift), I'm thinking of $25 dollars for 9 video recipe lessons. What do you think? Would you support the site and buy one (or lots) of these DVD's? Please take the poll below so I have an idea! I will make the official offer on Wednesday. Thanks!!

Would you buy a $25 DVD from Chef John to give as a gift?

Yes! I have been meaning to help support the site, and I do need some inexpensive gift options.

No! I love the site, but you're not getting any money from me. Nice try.

I would as well to give as gifts to family members who love it when I cook your stuff. When I recover from recent festival & Thanksgiving expenditures, I had planned to donate anyway. I'm thinking $10 for every recipe I swipe and use successfully to feed friends and family, and maybe another $10 for every question you answer afterward. I think I'm up to $100 now :-)

You can order Wednesday, after I give post the offer. I will only take orders for probably 10 days, so I'll have time to mail them out. Sorry, but only USA this time. I will just use first class mail, so everyone that orders should get them about a week before Xmas.

Don't be worried about the quality of the DVD - the filming is the same good stuff you see here, and you all know the recipes are top-notch! I saw the DVD (at Thanksgiving), and it is great! It really is something anyone would love to have! It's the process of "merchandising" that is unfamiliar territory, but by getting your order in by the deadline you will have the DVD's in plenty of time to wrap and send onto your friends and family for holiday gift giving.

You guys need to pony up the dough :)! I donated whatever small amount I could out of grattitude to Chef John for all he does. It only took a second, and I even got a personal emai from CJ himself!

This DVD will be our chance to prove "we knew him when" after he becomes the next Guy Fieri, only with less hair and no sunglasses on the back of the neck. Imagine the ROI when these things get sold on eBay in 10 years!

I love this site and one of the best things about it is the indexing. I can go straight to a recipe of interest among, it seems, hundreds of recipes, or compare recipes. If I buy the DVD, how am I going to add recipes to a pre-existing category-- I can't. I would much prefer to use a USB/MP device with a subscription to your site, so I can download it all and use it dynamically. You can still have a "free" site and sell subscriptions. I don't need more DVDs cluttering my apartment. Thanks.